European Union

1 Oct

ECPMF urges action upon publication of the first EU Annual Rule of Law Report

ECPMF as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response, welcomes the publication of the first EU Annual Rule of Law Report, and we appreciate that a number of the concerns we raised in the preparatory phase have been taken into account.

15 Sep

ECPMF sign joint statement issuing 5 demands for an ambitious European Democracy Action Plan

Democracies in Europe have been faced with numerous challenges over the past decade, including increasing political polarisation, closing democratic space, increased mass surveillance, popular disillusionment with representative politics and democratic institutions, and increasingly assertive authoritarian global players. There is widespread recognition of the fact that democracy is under pressure across the world.

28 Jul

MFRR Open Letter: Dismissal and resignations at Hungary’s largest news site after EU Summit create a moment of alarming symbolism

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are profoundly concerned about the latest media freedom attacks in Hungary, which follow only days after the EU Summit, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised the rule of law situation in his country.

23 Jul

MPM2020: Media in Europe face multiple threats, new Media Pluralism Monitor shows

The 2020 Media Pluralism Monitor confirms mounting harassment against journalists, media outlets face increasing economic uncertainty, as online media sphere fails to reinforce pluralism.

25 Jun

Stop use of SLAPPs: International organisations and journalist bodies express concern about legal threats against EUobserver

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, journalist bodies, free expression and journalist support organisations are concerned about the legal threats made against EUobserver in Luxembourg and Belgium and call to stop the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) actions across Europe. Left unreformed, such legal threats will be sufficient to silence media workers and outlets. We stand in solidarity with EUobserver and will continue to monitor developments around the case.

18 Jun

Open letter ahead of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The German Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins at a difficult time, in which concerted efforts from across the social, economical and political spectrum are required. We urge Germany to proactively lead the Member States in the Council towards effective solutions that will bring about real progress and overcome challenges, to press and media freedom in Europe.

8 Jun

Ending Gag Lawsuits in Europe – Protecting Democracy and Fundamental Rights

The EU must end gag lawsuits used to silence individuals and organisations that hold those in positions of power to account.

12 May

Attacks against journalists in Germany: facts and trends

A spate of assaults on media workers in Germany shows how the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing a new kind of violence onto the streets and endangering journalists at work.

17 Apr

From blueprint to footprint: Safeguarding media freedom and pluralism through the European Rule of Law Mechanism

Together with 23 other civil society and press freedom organisations, we give recommendations to the European Commission. These outline how to make the Rule of Law strong, timely, inclusive and representative of the challenges faced by journalists and the media sector.

4 Mar

EU and Member States must create safe environment for journalists reporting on the humanitarian situation in Greece

Physical attacks, online harassment and censorship: In recent days, media freedom organisations have shed light on threats against journalists reporting on the arrival of migrants into Greece.